NCB Accompanies the Digital Transformation of the Tourism Industry

The proactive and innovative participation of the banking sector in the digitalization of the tourism industry not only promotes its role as a provider of financial services, but also contributes to removing payment barriers, completing the digital tourism ecosystem, and enhancing the competitiveness and attractiveness of Vietnam as a destination.

The year 2025 marked a turning point for Vietnam’s tourism industry, as “digital tourism” moved beyond a conceptual stage and entered a phase of actual operation and substantive growth. The e-Conomy SEA 2025 report by Google – Temasek – Bain & Company shows that tourism is one of the key drivers contributing to Vietnam’s economy, thanks to the steady recovery of international arrivals, the strong momentum of domestic tourism, and particularly the application of digital technology throughout the travel experience. At the same time, tourist trends increasingly prioritize speed, convenience, and personalized experiences.

In that context, on December 20, the national tourism data platform – Visit Vietnam – was officially launched, aiming to standardize and connect data to support governance, business activities, and the enhancement of tourism experiences in the digital transformation process. The platform is operated by Sun Group, under the auspices of the Government, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, and the National Data Association, and is expected to commence operations from the second quarter of 2026.

Visit Vietnam promises to deliver a seamless, convenient, and modern payment experience for international tourists.

In particular, in addition to outstanding resort, entertainment, and exploration experiences of beautiful Vietnam, the Visit Vietnam platform is expected to offer an unprecedented seamless and convenient payment experience for international tourists. With the accompaniment of the National Citizen Commercial Joint Stock Bank (NCB) as a strategic partner, the platform will integrate NCB’s iziPay payment solution (in coordination with the National Data Association and Visa), allowing tourists to book services and make payments directly on the system at acceptance points nationwide.

This represents NCB’s next effort to remove payment barriers for international visitors, thereby contributing to enhancing destination service capacity amid the rapid development of digital tourism. The bank is also accelerating the deployment of pioneering digital payment solutions in the market, particularly solutions that support attracting international tourists to Vietnam, guided by the vision of “Transforming from transactions to experiences: payments as a national competitive advantage in tourism.”

It is known that NCB has coordinated with NAPAS to successfully implement cross-border QR connectivity, enabling tourists from Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and China to use their domestic banking applications or e-wallets to make payments at NCB QR acceptance points in Vietnam. In the near future, this connectivity is expected to be expanded to markets such as South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, India, and China (Alipay).

NCB pioneers the deployment of digital payment solutions, supporting the attraction of international tourists to Vietnam.

For domestic tourists, NCB offers ultra-fast card issuance solutions, making access to financial utilities more convenient throughout their travel journeys. Tourists can easily issue a credit card directly at kiosks, ready for spending and enjoying accompanying benefits. Beyond its payment function, NCB credit cards contribute to completing a seamless and comprehensive tourism experience, built upon a diverse and extensive tourism ecosystem.

Accompanying Visit Vietnam, together with its orientation toward developing payment solutions aligned with tourists’ consumption habits, demonstrates NCB’s long-term strategy of connecting finance and technology with the evolving dynamics of the tourism industry. In the coming period, the bank will continue to launch digital payment solutions that are more convenient, secure, and better suited to each experiential journey, thereby contributing to the formation of a unified digital tourism ecosystem, improving service quality at destinations, and supporting the sustainable development goals of Vietnam’s tourism sector.

For further information, customers may refer to the NCB website at https://www.ncb-bank.vn, contact NCB transaction offices/branches nationwide, or call the Hotline: (028) 38 216 216 - 1800 6166.